![]() ![]() If you just won the lottery or recently came into a lot of money (à la Succession’s Willa Roy) you can buy some bonkers original Memphis Milano pieces on 1stDibs, like the ultimate conversation pit-the Tawayara 'Boxing Ring' Seating Unit by Masanori Umeda-or the instantly recognizable Carlton room divider by Ettore Sottsass himself. It was the first time materials like laminate were being used outside of the kitchen, and its whimsical, geometric perspective would spawn a ton of other glorious 80s trends like cocaine decor and 90s oversized novelty pop decor (RIP Think Big). The group’s first collection debuted in September of 1981 and featured 55 instantly iconic products that had crowds of thousands cramming their way into a tiny gallery to see pieces of furniture that favored bold colors, humor, and form over function. The original group was comprised of Aldo Cibic, Matteo Thun, Marco Zanini, Martine Bedin, Michele De Lucchi, Nathalie Du Pasquier, and George Sowden, with famous architect Michael Graves, Peter Shire, and more contributing their input and designs later on. Fittingly the name “Memphis” also served as an homage to the ancient Egyptian capital city of the same name, known for grand pharaonic temples and other ornate constructions. While they discussed their designs, Bob Dylan’s “ Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again” played on repeat ( Dylan was one of Sottsass’ favorite musicians), inspiring the group to adopt the name “Memphis” for their new movement. On the fateful evening of December 11, 1980, Italian architect Ettore Sottsass invited a group of designers over to his (surely groovy) living room in Milan, and together, they hatched a plan to completely disrupt the following year’s Salone del Mobile, Milan’s annual design fair. If you’ve always wondered why an Italian design group decided to name itself “ Memphis,” the answer might surprise you-it’s a two-part reference. ![]()
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